Monthly Archives: December 2010

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Gov.-elect Jerry Brown warned educational leaders on Tuesday to “fasten your seat belts” when he unveils his proposed budget for next year, saying the plan will include painful cuts in school funding.Tony Castro in the Daily News,

“Please sit down when you read the stories on the budget Jan. 10,” Brown said during a briefing with education leaders at UCLA. “Don’t stand up. Do sit down. If you’re in the car, fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a rough ride …

“This is a really huge challenge, unprecedented in my lifetime. I can’t promise you there won’t be more cuts because there will be.”

Los Angeles Unified officials approved an earlier start to the year for all schools Tuesday, while also changing district rules to allow corporate ions to sponsor campuses. Connie Llanos in the Daily News.

The new calendar, first tried this year as a pilot at 17 district schools, will take effect next fall. It will have students starting school Aug. 15 and ending on June 1.

The change faced some opposition from parents, who argued that it would leave students in school during some of the hottest days of the year. Some also complained the change would wreak havoc on vacation plans, especially those made in advance of this decision.

Despite operating at a loss of about $2.5 million largely due to uncollected fines, Los Angeles’ red-light camera program received backing from the Police Commission on Tuesday after reports indicated a decrease in crashes at monitored intersections.C.J. Lin in the Daily News.

The Los Angeles Police Department reported a 63 percent drop in red-light-related traffic accidents, and noted that there have been no deaths at those intersections compared to the five documented before the cameras were installed.

“This program is doing exactly what it was intended to do, and that is to save lives,” LAPD Sgt. Matthew MacWillie told the commission.

Although he received positive reviews for his first year as Los Angeles police chief, Charlie Beck will not get a raise because of the city’s budget crisis, the Police Commission decided Tuesday.C.J. Lin in the Daily News.

Commission President John Mack said the five-member civilian board was “very pleased” with Beck but thought it would be inappropriate to authorize the expected 5 percent increase in his $307,290-a-year salary because of the city’s dire financial situation

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa plans to nominate an energy and water consultant with more than 30 years’ experience to become the next general manager of the Department of Water and Power. Daily News.

Ronald O. Nichols, 57, is managing director in the energy division for Navigant Consulting Inc., an international consulting firm dealing with regulation, reform, customer demands and government oversight.

Villaraigosa is expected to make a formal announcement this week, but Nichols began to meet Tuesday with some City Council members. He plans to meet all 15 before the council starts its annual two-week recess Monday.